Two Recent 9th Circuit Decisions Affirm Equal Treatment for Churches During COVID-19 Lockdowns

In a couple recent court cases involving restrictions on indoor worship attendance, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has acknowledged the irreparable harm caused by such government mandates – but allowed most of the state restrictions to stand. The good news, however, is that in both cases, involving churches in California and Nevada, the appeals court took pains to order that churches be treated the same way as similarly situated secular activities, something that had been lacking in the state mandates.

In South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom,...